Whiffletree-hook.



' 110,796,314.' PAT'BNTBD AUG. 1, 1905.

` "5. GANSLEY WHIPFLETRBB HOOK.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 5, 1905- /NKEN 470k 47 4 WJTNESSES.-

PATENT OEEICE.

UNITED sTATEsI JACOB eANsLEY, OE VICTOR, IOWA.

WHlFFLETREE-HOOK- Spec'icaton of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 5, 1905. Serial No. 239,736.

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB GANsLEY, of Vic,

accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

This invention is an improvement in whiietree-hooks; and its object isto make a hook which can easily be attached to ordinary whifietrees,will hold the traces securely when properly engaged therewith, and withwhich the traces can be easily engaged or disengaged.

The hook is especially designed for use with working harness or traceshaving metal rings or eyes on their ends to engage the hooks; and theinvention consists in the novel construction of the hook as illustratedin the accompany drawings and hereinafter described with referencethereto. In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the completehook'closed, a trace engaged'.

therewith. Fig. 2 is a side view of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a side view of thehook open. Fig. 4 is a plan View thereof, partly in section, detachedfrom the whiflietree; andFig. 5 is a front end View.

The hook comprises a bolt or threaded shank A.- adapted tobe screwedinto the end of the whifietree W, so as to secure the hook thereto, asindicated in Fig. l of the drawings. To this shank A, near its outer endand projecting at right angles thereto, is rigidly attached the lowerhook member B, which projects `forwardly and lies horizontally at rightangles to the shank and in the plane thereof, the forward end of saidhook member B being bent into a C-hook form. as usual. Pivoted on theshank exterior to the member B is the second movable hook member C,whose forward end is curved like but oppositely to member B and overliesand rests upon the latter. the hook ends of the two members beingoppositely tapered, as shown in Fig. 5,- so that when closed upon eachother they form a neat oval -shaped closed loop almost uniform incross-section, in which the eye or ring t of the trace T will besecurely retained. The said eye can play in the hook without danger ofbeing accidentally disengaged therefrom, and when the brace is understrain the eye will firmly hold the two members of the hook in closedposition.

As shown, the movable member C of the hook has a-rearward extension c,which serves as a finger-piece. By depressing this fingerpiece c thefree end of hook member C is separated from the free end of member B, sothat the trace-eye t can be readily removed from or inserted into thehook.

The member C is retained on the shank by means of a suitable headcaf/,which ,I prefer to make in the form of a nut screwed onto the endof the shank and riveted suiciently to prevent its casual displacement,while allowing l it to .be forcibly removed in case either hook membershould be broken and need repairing.

A band or capw may be used on the end of whiiiietree, if desired, toprevent the latter splitting.

The manner of attaching the hook and its mode of use is obvious from thedrawings. Briefly stated, the shank is screwed into the end of thewhiffletree and the hook members arranged in the position shown in thedrawings. The hook will normally remain closed by gravital action ofmember C. When itis desired to engage the trace-eye therewith, the hookis opened by raising member C and the eye t slipped on member BV andaround until member C can be lowered. Then the eye slips upon member lBand over the hook end of member Cto the position indicated in thedrawings and is securely retained. To disengage the trace from the hook,the eye is moved back on member B until member C can be raised,'and thenthe eye is slipped off of member B beneath member C.

The hook, as shown, can be readily attached to ordinary whiffletreeswithout any particular fittings or additions. All of its parts can bemade of wrought-iron, and it can be easily repaired if injured.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-v 1. In combination with a whifliletree,` athreaded' bolt screwed into the end thereof, a hook member rigidlyattached to the bolt near vice fast to the outer end of the bolt and re.taining the pivoted hook member thereon, substantially as described.

2. In combination, a threaded bolt adapted to be screwed into the end ofa whifdetree,

a hook member rigidly attached to said bolt Patented Aug. 1, 1905.

n ear the outer end thereof; a similar oppo- In testimony that I claimthe foregoing :is slte hook member directly pivoted on said myownlafx mysignature in presence of two bolt beside and exterior to the rst member,witnesses.

the curved ends of said hook members over- JACOB GANSLEY. lapping, and anut screwed on the outer end In presence ofofthe bolt and retaining thepivoted member W. H. BOWMAN,

on the bolt, substantially as described. l A. C. WILSON.

